Valley Forge Marathon Swim

dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

A reason to visit the Philly area --

https://www.athletepath.com/valley-forge-marathon-open-water-swim/2015-09-04

An assisted Open Water Swim from Bridgeport to Valley Forge National Park and back in the Schuylkill River.

And there's no processing fee for registering online! Come join us!

Comments

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    My uncle and cousin are from the area and might be available as volunteer kayakers. I'll tell them about it. Looks like a fun swim!

    dpm50nabilrad

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin
  • Cole_GCole_G PhiladelphiaMember

    I am so excited for there to finally be a marathon swim so close to where I live! It certainly makes logistics a lot easier when I can sleep at my own home the night before the race.

    I'm curious as to why the race is planned for a Friday instead of Saturday though.

  • jcmalickjcmalick Wilmington, DEMember

    What's the water quality like? I vowed to never swim in the Schuylkill again based on getting a bacteria infection after doing a 1 mile swim as part of the Olympic Distance of the Philly Tri a few years ago. Obviously, the water will be affected by weather/rain but what is the overall quality and pollution levels in the river on an ongoing basis?

  • Leonard_JansenLeonard_Jansen Charter Member

    JC -

    They are going to be using phillyrivercast.org/ for water quality info.

    -LBJ

    jcmalick

    “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde

  • Cole_GCole_G PhiladelphiaMember

    @jcmalick, the water quality of the Schuylkill can be monitored here:

    http://www.phillyrivercast.org/Nav_home.aspx

    Now this only monitors the quality from Flat Rock Dam and downstream. This race starts up above the Norristown Dam, which is over 8 miles upstream. I can't attest to how the quality changes, but my understanding has always been that it's cleaner as you go further up (and it certainly looks much cleaner the further upstream you go).

    jcmalick
  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    So for those of you from there, how tough is this race going to be, considering you're swimming against the current for half of it?

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    Wetsuits will only be allowed if the water temperature is below 85 degrees Farenheit.

    @dpm50, are you the organizer of this here race? If so, are you allowing wetsuits because you are afraid you won't get enough participants? Will you have separate categories for skins and wetsuits?

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Not an organizer, just helping out!

    Go to the bottom of this page

    https://www.athletepath.com/valley-forge-marathon-open-water-swim/2015-09-04

    for organizer contact info. It doesn't appear that there will be a separate division for wetsuits, but I can check on that.

    I doubt very much any of the solo swimmers will wear wetsuits, based on the people I've heard are signing up.

    Re water quality questions above--they cancel our regular open water swims if the rivercast comes up red or even yellow.

    I swim there pretty regularly with the group and last year, while training for the Great South Bay Swim, did a 3 hour supported swim with my coach--and there are also periodic open water half mile races--most of which I did (had to miss one b/c of work). I've not had any ill effects from swimming there all last summer/early fall or this year.

    We also won't be swimming in/near the city in this one--it heads away from the city and then back to the floating dock at Upper Merion Boathouse.

    Here's a video from a scouting swim our coaches did last year:

    https://www.facebook.com/1585411945/videos/10203878887764343/

    Let me know if it doesn't open!

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    If any readers live in the Philly area and you want to get a feel for the location (or if you're visiting), there are regular open water swims on Tues. at 6:30 and Sat. at noon (weather/ water quality permitting--thunderstorms cancel).

    Info here: you can pay just for one session to try it out--I think the online price went up to $15 (I'm not doing the one session at a time deal so not entirely sure):
    https://www.athletepath.com/adult-summer-swim-program-upper-merion/2015-05-23

    You can also try one of the o.w. races--they're short but will give you a sense of the start location and you'll get a chance to meet/talk w/ the organizers:

    https://www.athletepath.com/upper-merion-open-water-swim-series/2015-05-19

    This isn't one of those mega-race deals--it's operated by two very experienced and dedicated swimmers/coaches. I've been happy w/ what I get for my money. They're into this b/c this is what they love.

    So I highly recommend giving this swim a go! Message me if you're considering it but are not ready to commit just yet.

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Well, for comparison, I swam in the Hudson River (2 Bridges 2.5k). That was wicked hard! I didn't think I'd ever get to to the turn-around. Current was not only strong but water was getting choppier.

    The Schuylkill is DEFINITELY easier! I'm not very fast, and although it takes me more time to get upstream than down, I've never felt that it was a struggle, just required a little more push. I never feel all that aware of a current against me the way I very much did in the Hudson.

    IronMikeOnceaRunner
  • HollyTHollyT Member

    I'd love to do this one, as I'm a Westtown Alum (near Media PA) and I could visit with my awesome parents. But... It's 2 weeks before my big Alligator Light swim. Will ask Coach. Do you really think the water will get near 85? I'm not real familiar with any body of water in PA beyond the Yellow Breeches/Connidiguinit/ Laurel Lake near my childhood home and I always remember everything being cold!

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Very much doubt it. Swam there all last summer and I would have felt 85, my y pool temp. Usually about mid, high 70s in summer.

  • HollyTHollyT Member

    THanks dpm50. I will have to talk to my coach... will this be an annual event. I am coming off a semi complicated spine surgery...and I'm not as physically strong as I was last year...but next year....

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Annual event is the plan! I'll ask at swim practice tonight to be sure, but they're quite excited about this swim and want to have a quality marathon swim event in the Philly area.

    By the way, relays are an option, up to four people, so that's something you might want to consider even this year. Maybe get your coach and some teammates to join you? :)

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    I only once ever swam in the Schuylkill with a wetsuit--just over a flu and water temp in the 50s in April. I felt very wimpy... skipped the wetsuit when the temp climbed into the 60s. :)

  • Leonard_JansenLeonard_Jansen Charter Member

    Psyched for this, but... having it on a weekday is going to make getting a kayaker even more "interesting" than usual. I can just see myself having no kayaker 2 days before the race, panicking and calling up a Philadelphia "Escort" service and asking them if any of the "escorts" know how to kayak and offering to pay the going rate to escort me up and down the river. The upside is that I bet most lingerie becomes fairly transparent when wet.

    -LBJ

    ChrisgreeneCole_Gklassman

    “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Leonard_Jansen said:
    Psyched for this, but... having it on a weekday is going to make getting a kayaker even more "interesting" than usual. I can just see myself having no kayaker 2 days before the race, panicking and calling up a Philadelphia "Escort" service and asking them if any of the "escorts" know how to kayak and offering to pay the going rate to escort me up and down the river. The upside is that I bet most lingerie becomes fairly transparent when wet.

    -LBJ

    LOL! I think your wife might have something to say about that! But never fear! We'll help you with this concern--... uh... if you WANT help--are you getting to find this escort service thingy more attractive as time passes? I can refer you then to the Philadelphia Weekly ads.... ;) The kayakers we can help you find might not prefer the attire you're suggesting. ;)

  • HollyTHollyT Member

    Leonard, that is hysterical. I would also have a Kayak problem. My Yakker and I do very well, but he is married to another lady and sometimes she does not like it if he leaves for other states. Sometimes she doesn't care.

  • rosemarymintrosemarymint Charleston, SCCharter Member

    Am I insane for suddenly considering doing this? What's the average open water mile pace that you would need to get this one done, considering the current, etc?

  • Leonard_JansenLeonard_Jansen Charter Member

    @rosemarymint -
    I went to the start on Saturday and swam with a group of the "natives." The current was not bad at all - noticeable, yes, but no real challenge. Swimming with the current was fun. Water was clean - at least to the point that I didn't get sick or have an upset stomach afterward. Not sure what that would translate to in minutes per mile to finish, but it's not an expensive race, so even if you enter and don't make it, you shouldn't end up living in a cardboard box.

    -LBJ

    “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde

  • rosemarymintrosemarymint Charleston, SCCharter Member

    @Leonard_Jansen I like the way you think. I've been in that river before and it was lovely, even in the city. I am supposed to have class that morning, but I'll check with my professor. Even if I just get 10K in I'd be happy. Now, to find a kayaker. I can get a kayak rather easily, it's the paddler part that's the challenge on a Friday.

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    You can do a relay too, so there's that! They allow up to four-person teams.

    This is put on my some swim buds who are very safety conscious too!

  • Leonard_JansenLeonard_Jansen Charter Member

    @ rosemarymint - As someone once said, "Yield to temptation, for it may not pass this way again."

    -LBJ

    dpm50

    “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde

  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    You might want to check in with the Philadelphia Canoe Club. http://www.philacanoe.org/ Message me for more info.

    rosemarymint said:
    @Leonard_Jansen I like the way you think. I've been in that river before and it was lovely, even in the city. I am supposed to have class that morning, but I'll check with my professor. Even if I just get 10K in I'd be happy. Now, to find a kayaker. I can get a kayak rather easily, it's the paddler part that's the challenge on a Friday.

  • rosemarymintrosemarymint Charleston, SCCharter Member

    I'm considering doing a two-person relay where everyone takes turns kayaking and swimming. Still need to think about it first, especially after some conversations with coach-like folks and friends. Half is a lot more reasonable than attempting the whole, especially with my history of injuries and current state of fitness. We shall see.

    JSwimdpm50
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